"We confirm news of the martyrdom of the sheikh and leader Abu al-Khayr al-Masri, who died a hero in a Crusader raid carried out by a drone on Syrian territory," read a joint statement from Al-Qaeda`s Yemeni and North African branches.

The US military has carried out its first drone strike from a base in Turkey against Islamic State targets in Syria, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, adding that preparations were under way for strikes by manned US aircraft as well.